A magistrate has denounced illegal employment by businesses in Gozo whereby employees are "used and dumped" by "unscrupulous" employers. 

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud was ruling on a case brought by the police against brothers George and Francis Schembri, directors of Neptune's Bar and Restaurant in Marsalforn. 

The brothers were accused of failing to pay employee Erika Saliba almost €3,000 in wages, overtime, bonuses and vacation leave between July 1 and August 10, 2013, when her employment was suddenly terminated. 

The court heard how Ms Saliba was not formally employed and neither did she have a contract of work, with the magistrate noting that her employment was "clandestine". 

"The court notes that this bad practice of illegal employment is adopted by various businesses in Gozo who argue that they cannot find people to engage. But there are those unscrupulous employers, like Francis Schembri, who abuse their workers, use them and then dump them. He [Mr Schembri] then came to court to argue that there was no work contract...the court finds this behaviour shameful and inhumane," Magistrate Mifsud said. 

He cleared George Schembri of the charges brought against him after he found how he was not involved in the company's day-to-day running but found his brother Francis guilty of all charges. 

Apart from ordering him to pay Ms Saliba €2,928, he conditionally discharged him for 12 months. Moreover, he ordered the Police Commissioner to take action against Francis Schembri for perjury.